Vol. 502 No. 3
319 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, taken by hospital managers during 1998 and to date in 1999 in respect of consultants who did not meet their scheduled commitment to public patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7668/99]
The information sought by the Deputy is not collected by my Department. Hospital consultants are expected to discharge their responsibilities to public patients in line with the contract they hold.
The present consultants' contract is designed to protect public patients in that a consultant's entitlement to off-site private practice should not result in any neglect of public patients. With regard to on-site private practice, a consultant's overall proportion of private to public patients should reflect the ratio of public to private beds in a hospital as designated under the 1991 Health (Amendment) Act.
Local management is charged with ensuring that the terms of the contract are discharged including the scheduled commitment to public patients. The contract includes a grievance procedure which can be used in the event of non-compliance by either party with its terms and conditions. In addition, an employer can also invoke the disciplinary procedures where necessary.
